Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-01-22
se,as Of THE INcAs.

riaa Race sf People Who Are Mno,
>sussa--Iu Southern Bolivia.
The Qnichoa Indians are the direct IA
icandants of the Incas of Peru, so rel,
described in Prescott's history. Thav
are fine race of men and it is a eraat
pity that little or nothing is done fo,
their education. On the contrary thev
are much abused, although of late wears
the government of Bolivia has taken
measures forbidding their maltreasment
Before reaching that country 1 was told
the only way in which to get along with
these Indians was to treat them like
dogs. However, treated them kindly
and justly, and from experience, l de.
clare this to be the best mode of GETTING
along. They are a good race, but with.
put courage. This Iattribute to the state
Of servitude they have been held under
and the utter ignorance they are kept
IN, giving them no incentive to better
their condition. From the first days Of
the conquest they were treated like
beasts of burden, withal they are intel.
ligent. and once educated they will in
time form an important factor in the
body polite of Bolivia. In Peru it was
the Quichoas who stood by Ceaceres, and
it is to them he owes his present posi-.
lion. Speaking their language and ming.
ing among them, he won them to his
cause, and truer friends can not be
found. The only priests who can man.
age them are the Franciscan monks
These also learn their language and live
among them. They are almost wor
shipped by the Quichoas.
The Inca language is to-day the same
as three centuries ago. The people are
tall, 1.-THE, well built, but rather slim, Of
very pleasing features, with rather
melancholy cast. Their morals are good.
nne of the laws of old, now Endorsed by
the clergy, is early marriage. They all
profess the Catholic religion. In each
village there is chapel, rude like their
houses. Their priests are chosen from
among themselves, and, though few Of
them can either read or write, they cele-
brate mass, baptize, marry and bury
people. Still to this day the sun is
looked upon as the promoter of power
and good. Each village has its CORE
gidor, who again has his alcaldes or as
sistants. The number of the latter
varies according to size Of population.
They are very laborious. Even when
travelling, which is generally done on
foot, they spin, men as well as women.
They carry a bundle of wool from which
they spin the threads with a spindle
hanging from the left hand, which they
keep in rotary motion while drawing
out the wool with the right hand.
Every available piece of ground they
cultivate, first fencing it in with stone
walls.
They are most prosperous in the south
Of Bolivia. Most of their houses were
built centuries ago. They are not no
MAIDS, though used to travel. While,
like all ignorant races, the women are
treated as interiors, the Quichoas do not
make slaves of their wives. On the con-
trary, / have twice heard Indian women
giving their lords orthodox curtain lee
lures for being intoxicated. This hap
pens only when they go to town to sell
their produce. AS a rule they are sober
and frugal. They are very kind to their
children and household animals. The
dress of the men consists of cotton
shirt, trousers reaching to the knee and
open half way up on the sides-this to
turn them up easier when crossing
streams-wooden or leather sandals al
wooden poncho, and black straw hat
ornamented with brightcolored cloth
or wool. Bolivia Cor. San Francisco
Chronicle.